All set to change car, but new model has horrible road tax

Glinda

Currently driving a 2004 Mercedes C180 Sports Coupe. Getting worried about the age of the car. It only has 35k miles, but I would still like to change it for something newer 'cos I'm afraid it will start giving trouble because of its age.

I spent years in very 'mumsy' cars, so I really like the one I have now. It's a bit prettier to look at and has lots of stuff like cruise control, panoramic sunroof, air con, alloys etc. I only do about 50 miles a week as i'm on public transport to and from work.

I suppose I am after something smart and a bit sporty, a good bit newer, that can take the kids comfortably with schoolbags in the back, and golf clubs in the boot.

I recently test-drove an 09 version of the same car, and was all set to buy until I discovered the road tax is 1050 (tax on my 04 is 551 and I foolishly thought newer=cheaper!). Gutted now, and confused.

The 09 Merc was 24950, which would be at the absolute top end of my budget. Diesel version is better tax-wise, but more expensive, so out of my budget.

Grateful for any suggestions as I'm just going round in circles and getting more and more confused!

delly

TBH the car you are driving should last years without too much bother, providing you have kept the servicing up. You could easily drop a big wedge on an '09 car and have a major fault with it in a short space of time, just as much as your current car.

If you want to change to a newer model for the joy of it then fire away, but if its primarily to avoid potential trouble I wouldn't consider it the best idea economy-wise.

vectra

Send your own one in for a full service and checkup
it will last years as already said

Then send it to http://www.detailer.ie/

And get it back looking better than when you got it.
You will save a fortune and have a good car that you know and can trust.

homer90

I would think the cost to change will be far more, than potential repair bills you may encounter over the next few years running your current car. Considering the age and milage on it.

Cionád

The additional motortax cost over 5 years will be approx 2,500.

The depreciation will be close to 20,000 in that time.

So in perspective it's not the tax that is a huge problem, although it may be difficult to shift on when time comes.

Tipp Man

vectra wrote: »

Send your own one in for a full service and checkup
it will last years as already said

Then send it to http://www.detailer.ie/

And get it back looking better than when you got it.
You will save a fortune and have a good car that you know and can trust.

Have you used those guys before?

How good are they?

delly

Tipp Man wrote: »

Have you used those guys before?

How good are they?

He's a member here, and comes highly recommended by other users.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73027700

keithclancy

What is this Irish fascination with cheap motor tax ?

Every other country they buy the car based on its merit and pay the tax accordingly.

People in Ireland seem to let the Motor Tax affect the choice of car, when in the grand scheme of things its going to depreciate like a chocolate fireguard and it would be far cheaper just to keep their current car

Del2005

keithclancy wrote: »

What is this Irish fascination with cheap motor tax ?

We're miserable and don't want to give the feckers any more as they'd just squander it.:D

Compton

A 04 merc with 35k miles is a decent car.. barely any miles on it, and probably relatively trouble free.. why change!?!?!

vectra

Tipp Man wrote: »

Have you used those guys before?

How good are they?

Never used them but as said above is a member on here and Higlhy recommended.
in my books any guy that gets trusted to detail the sort of cars he gets is more than capable.

VolvoMan

Glinda wrote: »

Currently driving a 2004 Mercedes C180 Sports Coupe. Getting worried about the age of the car. It only has 35k miles, but I would still like to change it for something newer 'cos I'm afraid it will start giving trouble because of its age.

I recently test-drove an 09 version of the same car, and was all set to buy until I discovered the road tax is 1050 (tax on my 04 is 551 and I foolishly thought newer=cheaper!). Gutted now, and confused.

high horse

VolvoMan wrote: »

Facepalm picture

^^That was unhelpful

OP, your car is barely run in at 35k miles and shouldn't give you any trouble if maintained. My advice: keep the car you have and don't buy a diesel just to get lower motor tax as with the mileage you do it will cause problems for a diesel.

fricatus

Glinda wrote: »

Currently driving a 2004 Mercedes C180 Sports Coupe. Getting worried about the age of the car. It only has 35k miles, but I would still like to change it for something newer 'cos I'm afraid it will start giving trouble because of its age.

Ah those Mercs are pure trouble, especially once they hit 7 years old and/or 35-40k miles.

Tell ya what, I'll take it off your hands for a grand, then you won't have all that trouble!

Consider it a favour



* As above: keep it serviced, get it valeted, and save yourself the money. At 35k, it's barely run in!

Slig

If you can afford the high motor tax and petrol prices now is a great time to buy a big engined motor. Nobody wants them especially petrol ones and they are extremely cheap at the minute. Unfortunately depreciation will be a hugh factor once you try sell it on.

Forking out 24K for a car you dont know in lieu of one you like is a big gamble IMO especially as it will be extremely difficult to find a buyer for it in the future. I'm not saying stick with what you have, I get bored with cars myself, but choose very carefully with some sort of thought for the future.

Voodoomelon

Just to add one of my typical spanner in the works posts, here's a clean S320 which you'd get for €20,000, with €5000 in your back pocket for running and repairs.



http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/320-CDI-/201128203399369/advert?channel=CARS

You can keep the C180 in the boot.

VolvoMan

high horse wrote: »

^^That was unhelpful

I'm sorry, but it's just the attitude you get in this country that I am so sick of at this stage.

OP, did you never think that the '09 car with high tax might be offset by its low list price? If you were to buy the diesel you would probably be spending a lot more to save less.

By the way, just because the registration on your present car says '04, it doesn't mean that it is soon going to implode (never mind the fact that it only has 35k!).

Voodoomelon

Its incredible really. This is hardly conclusive, but I reckon most people really do think that once the car reaches 50k or so miles, its past its used by date. I mean 35k miles? Really? I'd hang onto a 2004 C180 for dear life if it only had 35k miles on it, it must be like new.

the culture of deference

If you are going to buy and have a 24k budget, then buy something new. There are loads of new cars that would tick all your boxes, and you will get a great deal at the moment.

high horse

If you do want to change anyway, the 320i coupe is much lower to tax than the merc if thats a deciding factor

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201127203250511

sentient_6

24k would pay for some amount of fixes(& insurance, & tax, & petrol) for the merc. If potential future fixes are really what your worried about.

Eric Cartman

id say your best off with that s class above

or the other option is find an early 08 c180 , almost the age you want, a little cheaper and the tax is at the cheap rate

fricatus

Eric Cartman wrote: »

id say your best off with that s class above

A big diesel? She does 50 miles a week! :eek:

Eric Cartman wrote: »

or the other option is find an early 08 c180 , almost the age you want, a little cheaper and the tax is at the cheap rate

She checked out an 09, and the tax was higher than her current car. An 08 would be exactly the same (calculated on emissions and not engine capacity). Did you post in the wrong thread or something?

keithclancy

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Its incredible really. This is hardly conclusive, but I reckon most people really do think that once the car reaches 50k or so miles, its past its used by date. I mean 35k miles? Really? I'd hang onto a 2004 C180 for dear life if it only had 35k miles on it, it must be like new.

I wouldn't even consider buying something with that mileage on it ... its far too low :pac::pac::pac:

I'm planning on driving mine till 350,000/400,000, longer if possible !

OP .. Drive the S Class ... Guarantee you'll change your mind, everyone says i'd never have that thing, but then they drive it and their opinion changes

EPM

fricatus wrote: »

She checked out an 09, and the tax was higher than her current car. An 08 would be exactly the same (calculated on emissions and not engine capacity). Did you post in the wrong thread or something?

Do a little research and you'll see you are not quite right on this one;):)

fricatus

EPM wrote: »

Do a little research and you'll see you are not quite right on this one;):)

Aaaahhhh... this loophole?

"New cars registered between 1 January 2008 and 30 June 2008 had their motor tax charged on the basis of engine size initially. If it was beneficial for those cars to switch to the CO2 based motor tax system, this happened on the first renewal of motor tax after 1 July 2008."

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/motor_tax_and_insurance/motor_tax_rates.html

Humble pie... sorry Eric! :D

mickdw

Does the C180 really have tax of 1050? If so, Id say any cars reg'd on emissions system would have been reg'd to dealer and sold off at massive discount. Who would pay that tax on that engine. The OP would be foolish to touch it.

Joe 90

Is the C180 1800cc or 2 litre? Either way a horrible amount for tax.

Eric Cartman

fricatus wrote: »

A big diesel? She does 50 miles a week! :eek:

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/S-500L-%28/201126203061233/advert?channel=CARS

save yourself enough money to tax and repair it till it dies , and make those the most fun 50 miles a week that could be had

fricatus

Eric Cartman wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/S-500L-%28/201126203061233/advert?channel=CARS

save yourself enough money to tax and repair it till it dies , and make those the most fun 50 miles a week that could be had

Hehe, now there's a man after my own heart!

If I could get this past "head office", it's exactly what I would do! But I still couldn't in all conscience recommend it to the OP! :pac:

Glinda

Eric Cartman wrote: »

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mercedes-Benz/S-Class/S-500L-%28/201126203061233/advert?channel=CARS

save yourself enough money to tax and repair it till it dies , and make those the most fun 50 miles a week that could be had

Hmmm... but I wanted a newer car, this one is three years older!

Thanks to all who suggest keeping the car: I know that is the sensible thing to do financially, but for peace of mind (ok ok maybe a little bit for appearances sake too ), I'd like a newer one, so my question is, on my budget (absolute max of 24,950) what would be the best option?

Glinda

high horse wrote: »

If you do want to change anyway, the 320i coupe is much lower to tax than the merc if thats a deciding factor

http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201127203250511

Thanks high horse: might have a look at these.

Eric Cartman

Glinda wrote: »

Hmmm... but I wanted a newer car, this one is three years older!

Thanks to all who suggest keeping the car: I know that is the sensible thing to do financially, but for peace of mind (ok ok maybe a little bit for appearances sake too ), I'd like a newer one, so my question is, on my budget (absolute max of 24,950) what would be the best option?

a 530d perhaps ?

markoire

As already stated by others, I wouldn't get too caught up with the motor tax issue. Bands A & B are not sustainable for OUR government; i'd expect them to be abolished pretty soon and band C to be pushed up a bit!! Also, 50 miles per week?! Get something horribly un-economical! Please!

Glinda

markoire wrote: »

As already stated by others, I wouldn't get too caught up with the motor tax issue. Bands A & B are not sustainable for OUR government; i'd expect them to be abolished pretty soon and band C to be pushed up a bit!! Also, 50 miles per week?! Get something horribly un-economical! Please!

Why do you think they are not sustainable? I had expected the rates for these bands to go up if anything.

markoire

Glinda wrote: »

Why do you think they are not sustainable? I had expected the rates for these bands to go up if anything.

Sorry Glinda, that's exactly what I meant! They will presumably abolish Bands A and B at the very least and incorporate them into Band C. Or something similar! But even the higher bands are crazy, they need more balance. Charging €447 to tax a 2008 330d bmw when a 2007 costs €1293 to tax is ridiculous in my opinion!

Sobanek

vectra wrote:

Send your own one in for a full service and checkup
it will last years as already said

Then send it to http://www.detailer.ie/

And get it back looking better than when you got it.
You will save a fortune and have a good car that you know and can trust.

callawash.com

Very good service - Silver Valet which is now 129 makes your car look like brand new. Seriously. They don't do paint protection but this is what they do:
Car sponge-washed with high quality wet wax, hand dried, wheels cleaned, interior thoroughly vacuumed, floormats washed, dashboard and all interior plastics cleaned and polished, door ledges cleaned, tyre polish applied, all interior and exterior glass cleaned and polished, wheelarches powerwashed, boot vacuumed, tar removal and all paintwork polished with colour restoring wax and hand buffed to a deep shine.

@vectra

245

This one:

http://www.denismahony.com/north-road/search.html?car=351_1392722&HP=10&PN=2&SF=&SA=&SV%28F5424%29=50022&SV%28F5425%29=&SV%28F5442%29=used

will cost 630 euro per year to tax, is a '08, has negligible mileage and is within your budget